copobo
05-20-2010, 12:47 AM
Boulder seems to have a better grip on the Constitution than our legislators.
Boulder County Planning Commission supports medical pot rules - Boulder Daily Camera (http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_15120174?source=rss#axzz0oQTOxAOs)
Boulder County's Planning Commission voted 5-1 Wednesday to support a proposed set of regulations that would severely limit where medical marijuana operations could open in unincorporated parts of the county.
The Planning Commission's recommendation will be considered June 8 when county commissioners make a final decision on the new rules, which would limit dispensaries and growing operations to land in the county where businesses and industrial uses area already allowed.
"I think this is a rational approach," said Planning Commissioner Pat Shanks. "And I think it's a good idea for the county to put some land use restrictions in effect. These are really serious restrictions that are going to focus this into a specific area."
If the regulations pass, "medical marijuana centers" will be allowed in business, commercial, light industrial, general industrial and transitional zoning districts. But even within these districts, the centers would be banned in areas that are within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare facilities or drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. Marijuana operations would also not be allowed to operate within 500 feet of each other.
The lone planning commissioner to vote against the proposed rules, Neal Anderson, expressed concern that medical marijuana operations would still be allowed to open near neighborhoods that border those zoning districts and that the rules would allow patients and registered caregivers to grow medical marijuana in their houses as "home occupations."
"You are very definitely legitimizing this activity in residential areas," Anderson said to county land use staff. "I don't understand the logic for allowing grow houses in the middle of neighborhoods."
In response, Assistant County Attorney Barbara Andrews said that the ability for patients and caregivers to grow marijuana is protected under Amendment 20 to the state constitution, approved by voters in 2000, and can't be legally banned by the county.
Other planning commissioners argued that the limitations as proposed were already severe enough.
"This is the right first step," Planning Commissioner Ben Blaugrund said. "They're limited to such an extent that there are very few residential areas within unincorporated Boulder County that will be affected."
About 15 members of the public spoke at Wednesday's meeting. Several medical marijuana advocates asked that the county amend the proposed rules to allow growing operations in areas zoned for forestry and agricultural uses, which would open up a much larger portion of the county.
"It is my belief, and many in the community's, that these are totally acceptable districts to do this in," said Devin Liles, who says he has worked as a medical marijuana consultant for years. "They've been here without anybody knowing about them for a long time, and they don't have any negative impacts if done correctly."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Laura Snider at 303-473-1327 or [email protected]
Read more: Boulder County Planning Commission supports medical pot rules - Boulder Daily Camera Boulder County Planning Commission supports medical pot rules - Boulder Daily Camera (http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_15120174?source=rss#ixzz0oQU4Xnco)
Boulder County Planning Commission supports medical pot rules - Boulder Daily Camera (http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_15120174?source=rss#axzz0oQTOxAOs)
Boulder County's Planning Commission voted 5-1 Wednesday to support a proposed set of regulations that would severely limit where medical marijuana operations could open in unincorporated parts of the county.
The Planning Commission's recommendation will be considered June 8 when county commissioners make a final decision on the new rules, which would limit dispensaries and growing operations to land in the county where businesses and industrial uses area already allowed.
"I think this is a rational approach," said Planning Commissioner Pat Shanks. "And I think it's a good idea for the county to put some land use restrictions in effect. These are really serious restrictions that are going to focus this into a specific area."
If the regulations pass, "medical marijuana centers" will be allowed in business, commercial, light industrial, general industrial and transitional zoning districts. But even within these districts, the centers would be banned in areas that are within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare facilities or drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. Marijuana operations would also not be allowed to operate within 500 feet of each other.
The lone planning commissioner to vote against the proposed rules, Neal Anderson, expressed concern that medical marijuana operations would still be allowed to open near neighborhoods that border those zoning districts and that the rules would allow patients and registered caregivers to grow medical marijuana in their houses as "home occupations."
"You are very definitely legitimizing this activity in residential areas," Anderson said to county land use staff. "I don't understand the logic for allowing grow houses in the middle of neighborhoods."
In response, Assistant County Attorney Barbara Andrews said that the ability for patients and caregivers to grow marijuana is protected under Amendment 20 to the state constitution, approved by voters in 2000, and can't be legally banned by the county.
Other planning commissioners argued that the limitations as proposed were already severe enough.
"This is the right first step," Planning Commissioner Ben Blaugrund said. "They're limited to such an extent that there are very few residential areas within unincorporated Boulder County that will be affected."
About 15 members of the public spoke at Wednesday's meeting. Several medical marijuana advocates asked that the county amend the proposed rules to allow growing operations in areas zoned for forestry and agricultural uses, which would open up a much larger portion of the county.
"It is my belief, and many in the community's, that these are totally acceptable districts to do this in," said Devin Liles, who says he has worked as a medical marijuana consultant for years. "They've been here without anybody knowing about them for a long time, and they don't have any negative impacts if done correctly."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Laura Snider at 303-473-1327 or [email protected]
Read more: Boulder County Planning Commission supports medical pot rules - Boulder Daily Camera Boulder County Planning Commission supports medical pot rules - Boulder Daily Camera (http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_15120174?source=rss#ixzz0oQU4Xnco)